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45 tionlasthe switch casing illustrated in 'my'co-- 'pending application above-mentioned. This UNITED STATES IATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES J. KLEIN, 0E MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, As'sIeNon To THE CIrTLEn-HAMMER MEG. Co., 0F, MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION 0F WISCONSIN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 12, `1918,.

Application filed .T une 3, 1911. Serial No. 631,314.

To 'all t may concern Be'it;.lmo wn that I, CHARLES J. KLEIN, a

' citizen of the United States, residin at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwau Ice and State of liscoiisin, have invented new and useful Improvements-in Electric Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, coucise, and exactI description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming`- a part 'of this specification.

My invention relates to electric switches.

Iii ymore especially relates to electric switches of the type known Ias multicircuit switches described and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 628,157-, filed May 19, 1911, patented. Nov. 30, 1915, No. 1,162,076,-

' Among the objects of my invention is to provide an improved electric switch of the 4 multi-circuit type. A further object of my,

invention' is toprovide an improved electric switch arranged to control any desired'numl ber of circuits and equipped with a plurality Qf self-contained switch mechanisms connected'together to form a singleunit which may be readily removed from or inserted in fthe switch casing'as desired. Other objects and advantages of my improved construction will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanyingldrawings I have illustrated hone form which my invention may assume in practice. My invention, how-4 ever, is not limited to this .specific form, but

may .assume other forms.

In the views-of these drawingsf- Figure 1 shows a central sectional view through an assembled switch mechanism.

- Fig. 2 shows a transverse sectional view on line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 Shows av side elevation of one 'of the parts of the switch casing and a' portion of the self-contained switch mechanism in l position in the same.

In thesek vlews `I have Illustrated a switch casi-ng of substantially the same construcy'casing includes two halves 1 and 2 of insulating material and a cap 3. The two halves are arranged to be held together as illus-v trated in Fig. 1 and house between them a pluralityf of Self-contained switchA mech.` anisms gjoivthe type described in my coending application Serial No. 630,388, tiled Ray 31st, 1911, patented Dec. 7,1915, No.

"same to the opposite ends of the Seli-contained switch mechanisms 5. One of the casing members is attached to one or more 'of the switch-mechanisms by means of screws 6 having their. heads seated' in 'suitable recesses inthe outer surface of the casing and their Shanks engaging threaded perforations in vone of the end members of the frame of each switch mechanism. The other casing member is secured to one or more of the side members of the "frames by suitable taps 7v seatedin suitable recesses in the outer surface of the casing.' In this construction instead oi providing a septum in one of the base members to separatethe switch mechanisms I preferably provide the base members with re tangular shaped recesses 8 and 9, which are substantially the Same' de th and when thecasing is assembled provi e a chamber to house the switch mechanisms. In a preferiied form lthe switch units em ployed are connected together by some suitable jmeans sch as, for instance, `a rivet 10 passed through their adjacent sider members.v

, Thus it is seen that the switch mechanisms are united so that they are in reality inclosed in a single frame and in effect constitute a fsingle unitary mechanism. In apreferred form the ends of the adjacent Vside members of the frames are cut, dif', as shown at 11, so that they abut against the wall of one of the base members and Serve to position the unit in the casing, andthe lcasingl members are provided-with suitable recesses 'arranged to 'receive the end members of the unitv frames,

ioc-

s'o that the units fit snugly within-the casing. I

In this construction the terminal contacts of the casing'in lthe same manner. In this instance, however, the Shanks of the termi-- nals'instead of being entirely Hat asl therein shown are twisted near their upper ends at 15, so that thegedges of the terminal members are presented to the contactors of the switch mechanisms. `The Shanks Iof these terminal members are seated in the insulating end members of the switch units on op posite sides of the operating vmembers of ther switch mechanism as illustrated in Fig. 3, and are preferably provided with extensions extending through this end member and riveted to a plateA on4 the opposite side of the same, as described in my copending 'application Serial No. 680,388, filed May 31st, 1911, Patent No. 1,162,866. Terminal contact 14 in this construction, however, is not carried entirely by theinsulating end.' members, but is bent at about its middle point and extends upward parallel to the other contacts in a separate recess l6,`having a, wall 17 separatingv it from the body of the chamber and an opening 18 at its lower end through which the bent portion of the ter-4 minal passes.

When it is desired to operate the switch mechanism tovcontrol a single circuit all that is necessary to do is to push in 4one ofk the push buttons. As in the previous construction, the terminalcontact l2-is arrangedto actas the common terminal'for one or more circuits. When one of the upper push buttons is actuated one circuit will. be controlled, Whilewhen one of the lower push more circuits in which .the entire switch mechanism is self-contained and may be readily inserted for vremoved when desired. l/Vhen it" is desired -to take out the switch mechanism all that is necessary to do is to remove the screws and taps holding theV parts of the casing together, andwhen this The lower end Vot this terminal, however, is `carried by the insulatingl end member of the lower unit in the same' i manner as the other contacts.

access to the switch mechanism the entire series of units may be removed as the parts are separated. Further, theV parts of .the

units themselves may be readily separated,

since these parts are held together by the resilient `engagement of the metallicA parts with the insulating base.

lVhile I have in this application described one form which my invention mayassume, my invention is not limited to this specific form, but may assume-other forms, and I consequently wish to cover rin this applicatio-n all of those various other forms falling within the scope of my invention, as defined by the following claims. A

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows t 1; In Van electric switch, a plurality of snap switch mechanisms, a vframe inclosing the same to form a unit and terminalcon-` tacts carried by said unit, one of said terminal contacts beinglarranged to serve as a terminal for aplurality of circuits.

2. In an electric switch, a plurality of snap switch mechanisms, end membersarranged to limit the movement ofthe same, side members connecting said end membersl to form a plurality of frames inclosing said switch mechanisms, means for connecting said frames to form a-singleunitary frame and a casing attached to said unitary frame. 3. In an electric switch, va plurality of snap switch mechanisms, end members4 arranged to" limit the movement 'of' thev same,

side lmembers extending through .one of said end membersarranged to. connect said Vend members` to form a plurality of frames,

' rmeans for connectingI said frames to form a single unit and a casing inclosing said unit and attached to its oppositejends.v

In witness whereof, I have', hereunto subscribed my `name in the presence offtwo witnesses.

v CHARLES J. KLEIN. Witnesses:

H. L. RooKwELn, GEO; Haynes. 

